Seven Ways to Center Yourself for Stress Awareness Month!

Happy April Fools Day! But when it comes to tackling- that’s not joke. April is National Stress Awareness Month! As a social worker, I constantly feel myself facing burnout. Social workers deal with high stress situations and trauma daily. I make it a priority to implement stress coping mechanisms in my daily routine so I don’t get overwhelmed and take on more than my mind/body can handle. Of course, some stress is natural and healthy! But too much stress, especially when it’s prolonged, can lead to long term health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. 

When it comes to tackling stress, start off by asking yourself what does stress mean to me? When do I feel most stressed? How often do I feel stressed? Why does (insert task here) stress me out? A bit of reflection goes a long way when it comes to finding which coping mechanisms work best for you. 



If you’re more introverted try….

carving out time and space for self care. Spending time alone is incredibly important for our mental health, especially for our introverts out there. Introverts are easily overwhelmed/overstimulated by big groups of people and social events. A sauna session is the perfect way to spend time alone, while boosting your immune system and taking care of yourself. Carving out the time to spend alone and using that time to take care of ourselves is a critical break from the chaos and tension we experience throughout our day. It can improve our emotional and physical health. 

If you’re more extroverted try…

grabbing a bite to eat/drink with a friend! Call up a friend or family member and take a trip to our tonic bar for some healthy treats. Ashwagandha, as seen in our cacao calm latte, is a medicinal herb native to Asia and Africa known to reduce stress. It can help calm the brain, reduce swelling, lower blood pressure, and lower cortisol levels. Another all star adaptogen that reduces stress is reishi. Reishi is a mushroom traditionally known as “supreme protector” that calms the nervous system and supports the adrenal system (the system that produces cortisol). You can add it as a boost to any of our drinks or try it in our regenerate smoothie. 

If you’re Type A try….

meditation and breathing exercises. Slow down, stop thinking so much. Even if it’s for 5 minutes a day, give your brain a break! She deserves it. Another suggestion, if you’re a coffee drinker, is to switch to matcha! Don’t love the flavor? Experiment! Try exploring dozens of different recipes with the Matcha book. Authors Jessica Flint and Anna Kavaliunas created numerous recipes for desserts, appetizers, cocktails, and lattes so you’ll never get bored. And no, they don’t have to be perfect - have fun with it! 

If you’re Type B try…

using a planner. People that have a Type B personality usually have lower stress levels in general, but this can also lead to procrastination. With a planner you won’t miss important deadlines, events, etc! 

If you’re stressed about finances try…

creating a budget. Retire your chaotic excel spreadsheet or start from scratch with the budget book. This planner is designed to help you track daily, weekly, and monthly spending, organize and schedule expenses, control your finances, analyze where you should be putting more/less money into, and save for the big expenses! Make the most of your paycheck with this easy to use planner. Reduce your financial stress with KISS: Keep It Simple Silly! The hard work will pay off. 

If you’re stressed about relationships try…

journaling. Communication is key when it comes to any relationship we have, family, love, friendship, work, etc. Journal your thoughts before speaking. Try forming a deeper connection with yourself. Looking inward can help foster healthy relationships on the outside.

If you work at a desk all day try….

standing/walking every 30 minutes. Set a timer! Have you ever heard that sitting is the new smoking? Well, it’s not quite. Nonetheless sitting for too long during the day can lead to serious health risks such as diabetes, bad heart health, back problems, anxiety, etc. Walking releases endorphins in our brain, stimulates relaxation and improves our overall mood. On top of walking, make sure to hydrate hydrate hydrate! The average person should drink 9-13 cups of water a day. Bonus points it gives you an excuse to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes and have your skin glowing.